Interview with Artist: Yelena Patskevich

by Galina Kovshilovsky

Why do you do what you do?

I’ve been painting since early childhood and I can’t stop doing that. I express myself through my pictures and try to help people cope with their health problems through my works. I believe my paintings have some kind of bioenergy. Also, I‘ve painted and written simultaneously. I don’t know what is more important for me. But now, I have a great desire to become a master, so I’m drawing a lot, without stopping.

What’s is your background?

When I was 11 years old, my schoolteacher recommended me to study at art school. But there was no any art school around us, so my teacher started to teach me at her home. She did it selflessly, enthusiastically and free of charge. Having graduated from Printing university, she was a gifted artist. I began to paint nature with watercolors then with oil. It was the time when we painted portraits of each other. She gave me my first and very important knowledge of painting. I wanted to continue studying art after graduating the high school, but my mom wasn’t pleased with my idea, saying: "A woman is an artist ... What are you going to live on?" I went to the National Art University in Moscow but didn’t finish due to some circumstances. I graduated Lomonosov Moscow State University of Fine Chemical Technology and my specialty is an engineer in organic chemistry.
In November 2000, I arrived with my children to Milwaukee, WI, US. Here, after getting a certificate in nursing career, I started to paint again. Painting every morning and working on the second shifts, I tried to help my patients using my drawings and portraits of children. I continued my art education at Healing Forest Studio in Waukesha, WI where I took the course of portraits and the course of independent study.
in 2013-2014. Then, I started to participate in the “Plein Air Competitions” everywhere in Wisconsin. My personal exhibitions began in the nearest states and online in 2010. Now, I continue to study. Most of all I like “Plein Air Painters” in Chicago. I was accepted to this school, but then they switched to online courses due to the pandemic.

What art do you most identify with?

Impressionism, post impressionism and surrealism. I am still far from abstraction, but very close to nature with its bright colors. Also, I want to do more illustrations.

What work do you most enjoying doing?

It is hard to say because each of them contains a part of my energy, thoughts and feelings. They are part of me. It is easier to say which ones I don’t like. I am fond of my portraits. I make quick sketches of people with a pencil and pastel in half an hour and give them to people who I draw. I regard very critically all my works: landscapes, still lifes and portraits, and I think that everything needs to be improved.

What’s your strongest memory of your childhood?

A huge meadow - I am shorter than grass and flowers around me. I catch butterflies, dragonflies, bugs and caterpillars. I‘ll release them all later, but first I run to my parents to show my trophies and ask, who is called what. I don’t have enough hands, so I carry part of the insects in the dress and part in the mouth. I am 3-5 years old.
6. Can you describe a real-life situation that inspired you?
The latest situation was related to the death of my neighbor in a car accident and the meeting of all our neighbors at her place across the street. It was the time when I recognized and connected the river which is not far away and the course of our lives.

Why art?

Why only art? There is something else. There is molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry in my life. Now, of course, this is different, but my daughter, who has a PHD in Molecular Biology & Genetics, is seriously engaged. Well, I’ve decided to devote myself completely to painting. If only I had enough the strength.

What is artistic outlook on life?

My artistic outlook on life is bright with many tints in every drop of water and in every place of the world. In order not to bother people with my vision, I’ve decided to transfer everything to the paper and canvas. I am happy; how beautiful this world and any creature in it is!

What makes you angry?

I can get infuriated by a person who discusses a topic about which he knows nothing with appearance of an expert or teacher. Also, I get angry when ignorant people or bosses assault undeservedly and painfully other people, not me, then I just rush to defend.

What is your dream project?

I want to fully express myself using the best possible technique. More landscapes, portraits and illustrations.

What is your favorite or the most inspiration place in the world?

My favorite place today is near my house where flowers, bushes and trees blossom. Also, I like the oldest street very much in Milwaukee, Third Ward Street. It is filled with history of the city, the spirit of old times, ancient buildings, and customs. The past is speaking with you here and you can hear it. I like painting old buildings, churches, cathedrals and other city’s sights, and making “portraits of buildings” for an order or just for myself. I love Chicago very much. Although it is only 100 miles away from us, I still have not had the opportunity to draw there.

What is your goal?

This summer and fall I want to finish my new paintings on planer.